Slide gate for a container containing molten metal

ABSTRACT

A sliding gate valve (20) for a container containing molten metal has a housing portion (14) securable to the container and a slider unit (30) which is longitudinally movable with respect to the container. Respective refractory valve plates (22, 23) are insertable into the housing portion, and may be pressed against one another by spring elements (26). The refractory valve plates serve to open and close the valve (20). The slider unit (30) is mounted so as to be longitudinally movable on the housing portion by a plurality of mounting components (40) aligned perpendicular to the slider unit 30. The mounting components (40) are each secured to the housing portion (14) and on an opposite end have a guide which slides on a guide track (36) constructed on the slider unit (30). The mounting components (40) have a respective peg-shaped connecting element (25), a spring element (26) acting on the connecting element in the axial direction, and the guide supported on the connecting element (25).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sliding gate valve and to an associatedslider unit.

In a known sliding gate valve disclosed in publication EP-A-0277146, alongitudinally slidable slider unit is provided which accommodates arefractory valve plate and which is constructed as a sliding carriageand has rollers on both sides to guide the slider unit longitudinally.In the installed state, the sliding carriage is longitudinally guidedwith its rollers on guide tracks on a frame which, for its part, isvertically movably mounted on a housing upper portion by a plurality ofspring elements. The housing upper portion for its part is releasablysecured to the outlet of the vessel containing the molten metal.

The slider unit can be released from the frame and from the housingupper portion, particularly for plate replacement, by virtue of the factthat it is movable into a position situated outside an open and closedposition in which the guide tracks are lowered through a height whichrelaxes the spring elements. The frame provided with the guide tracks ismassive as a result of its construction similar to a housing, and ittherefore has a relatively complex construction and is consequentlyexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the object of the present invention is toprovide a sliding gate valve of the type referred to above which is ofsimple construction and may thus be manufactured more economically.

The object is solved by providing a gate valve in accordance with theinvention. Specifically, the sliding gate valve in accordance with theinvention can be provided with smaller dimensions, particularly withregard to its length and breadth, by comparison with the known valvedescribed above with the same stroke and the same plate sizes.Furthermore, it may be manufactured more economically by virtue of thefact that the housing frame can be omitted.

The advantages of the known sliding gate valve, such as, for example,the automatic release and clamping of the slider unit from and to thehousing portion, are, however, also applicable to the sliding gate valvein accordance with the invention.

A further substantial advantage of the sliding gate valve in accordancewith the invention resides in the fact that, after release from thehousing portion, the slider unit is pivotally mounted with a simplyconstructed hinge. Thus, the slider unit can pivot about an axis ofrotation extending parallel to the direction of movement on one or theother outer side of the housing portion. The slider unit can thus beswung in a horizontal and non-vertical direction in the manyinstallation conditions of the ladles which prevail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments and further advantages of the invention will beexplained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sliding gate valve in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom of the sliding gate valve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the sliding gate valve of FIG. 1, its sliderunit being shown in chain-dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sliding gate valve ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a modified construction of the slidinggate valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a sliding gate valve 20 at the outlet of a containercontaining molten metal. This container is lined with refractorymaterial, and only the outer steel shell 13 and a refractory nozzlebrick 17 are shown. This container is, in particular, a ladle used in acontinuous casting installation into which molten metal is introduced. Arefractory sleeve 11 defines the outlet opening 12 of the container, andclosely adjoins an upper, refractory valve plate 22 which is secured ina housing portion 14 of the sliding gate valve 20. A refractory valveplate 23, which is mounted in a longitudinally movable slider unit 30,is pressed against the upper plate 22 by spring elements 26. Adjoiningthe refractory valve plate 23 is a replaceable refractory outlet sleeve16. The valve plate 23 serves to open and close the valve 20, for whichpurpose it is arranged to be slidable by a drive element together withthe slider unit 30 holding it.

In accordance with the invention, the slider unit 30 is mounted on thehousing portion 14 by a plurality of mounting components 40 extendingperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of slider unit 30, and the sliderunit 30 can move in a longitudinal direction. The mounting components 40are secured to the housing portion 14 and have a guide located at an endopposite the end connected to the housing portion 14, and the guideslides on a respective guide track formed on the slider unit 30.

Two mounting components 40 are conveniently provided on both sides ofthe valve plates 22, 23 (four total), and are arranged symmetricallywith respect to the outlet opening 12 of the container (see FIG. 2).Each mounting components 40 has a peg-shaped connecting element 25extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing portion14 and of the slider unit 30. These connecting elements 25 are mountedin the housing portion 14 so as to be movable in their axial direction.Acting on the upper head plates 25′ of each connecting elements 25 is arespective spring element 26 constructed as a compression spring, andthe spring is encapsulated in a sleeve 28. Rotatably mounted on thelower end of each connecting element 25 in pairs are two respectiveslide rollers 27, provided as the guides, on which the slider unit 30 islongitudinally guided. For this purpose, the slider unit has, on bothsides of the valve plate 23 which is inserted into slider unit 30, arespective T groove-shaped recess 33 extending in the direction ofmovement of the slider unit, and two respective guide tracks 36 areformed in this recess. This symmetrical arrangement of the pairs ofslide rollers with respect to the line of action of the spring forceproduced by the spring element 26 produces an optimal force transferfrom the mounting components 40 to the slider unit 30 and subsequentlyto the plates 22, 23, which are to be pressed against one another.

As shown in FIG. 2, the T groove-shaped recesses 33, shown laterally inthe slider unit 30 as hidden detail, are each provided in the center andat the end with diverging (larger) openings 33′. The openings 33′ areconstructed and dimensioned with respect to one another so that theconnecting elements 25 are slidable into them together with the sliderollers 27, and so that the connecting elements 25 can be removedthrough them.

FIG. 3 shows the guide tracks 36 which each have a respective ramp 36′at the end by the openings 33′. The height of each guide track 36 issuch that the spring elements 26 are stressed to the operating pressurewhen the rollers 27 run onto them and are completely relaxed whenreleased. In order to release the slider unit 30, the slider unit 30 ismoved into a position situated outside the open and the closed positionsof the valve 20 in which the slider unit is relieved of the springpressure until its openings 33′ are situated above the slide rollers 27so that rollers 27 can pass through openings 33′ and the slider unit 30can be released. Hinge members 37 disposed laterally on the slider unit30 move with their bores onto corresponding hinge pegs 38 on the housingportion 14, whereby the slider unit 30 can be swung outwardly. Theslider unit 30 is coupled by means of claws 41 or the like to a push rod42 of a drive element 19 constructed in the form of a hydrauliccylinder. As a further advantage, this claw coupling enables the sliderunit 30 to be automatically released from the push rod 42.

The hinge 37, 38 could also be arranged on the other side of the sliderunit 30 or on the shorter side remote from the drive. Accordingly, theslider unit can be swung out on one of the three sides, depending on thepositioning of the valve on the ladle outlet. Since the direction ofmovement of the slider unit at the installation location extends in thevertical direction in many applications, the slider unit can be swunghorizontally in the illustrated arrangement, which is associated with asmall application of force.

The two mounting components 40 located on one side of the valve plate22, 23 are reinforced by at least one connecting rod 31, 32 forstabilization against the bending forces which occur and they thus forma carriage shape. The two connecting rods 31, 32 provided in the presentcase are situated centrally in the recess 33. They have a breadth whichcorresponds approximately to that of the connecting elements 25 so thatthe connecting elements can be introduced into or removed from therecess 33. The connecting elements 25 are also divided into two sectionsand connected together by a tongue and groove connection 25″ or thelike. These connecting rods 31, 32 could also in principle be omitted.Sliding blocks could also be used instead of the slide rollers 27.

As a further advantage, these mounting components 40 can be removedlaterally from the housing portion 14 as a unit, within the scope of theinvention, when the slider unit 30 is swung out. For this purpose,appropriate openings 15 are present in the housing portion 14 throughwhich the mounting components can be fittingly slid. The spring elements26 can be rapidly removed through the openings 15 for the frequentlynecessary tests of their biasing force, and then reinserted.

As shown in FIG. 4, transverse and longitudinal ribs 30′ in the centralpart of the slider unit 30 serve to reinforce the slider unit 30 againstdistortion and torsional forces. The sliding gate valve 20 is otherwiseillustrated in the closed position.

FIG. 5 shows a modified sliding gate valve 50 which is basicallyconstructed in a manner similar to that of FIG. 1. Only the differenceswill therefore be discussed below in more detail. This sliding gatevalve 50 again has a housing portion 54 which is secured to thecontainer and in which a stationary, refractory valve plate 22 iscontained. A significant difference from the valve 20 is that themounting components 65 are not secured in the housing portion 54, butrather to the slider unit 60. The axially movable connecting elements 55are mounted together with the spring elements 66, constituted by aplurality of plate springs, in a recess 61 in the slider unit 60.Associated with the connecting elements 55, of which there areadvantageously again four, as a guide is a respective slide roller 68,which is rotatable on a horizontal shaft 69 and which slides on a guidetrack 71 on the housing portion 54 constructed in a manner analogous tothat in FIG. 3. The two guide tracks 71 provided laterally on thehousing portion extend in the direction of movement of the slider unitand are provided with ramps, which are not shown in detail and serve toload and unload the spring elements 66.

In the sliding gate valves 20, 50 in accordance with the inventiondiscussed above, both the housing portion 14, 54 and the slider unit 30,60 have a construction similar to a plate, and in the operationalcondition are arranged parallel and at a small distance from oneanother. These sliding gate valves 20, 50 can thus be maintaineddimensionally as small as possible as a result of this construction inaccordance with the invention, as regards the constructional height andalso its length and breadth. The result of this is a more economicalmanufacture of the valves. This valve can be produced both in smallerdimensions for smaller ladles of up to 100 tons holding capacity, andalso in larger dimensions for 300 ton ladles.

In principle, the necessary spring packet for urging the refractoryplates against one another could be provided in a manner known per sebetween the sliding plate and the slider unit. The mounting componentscould accordingly be arranged non-movably in the housing portion or inthe slider unit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sliding gate valve to be mounted to a containerfor containing molten metal, comprising: a housing portion to be securedto the container; a slider unit mounted to said housing portion andhaving guide tracks; a first refractory valve plate and a secondrefractory valve plate inserted between said housing portion and saidslider unit and operable to open and close the sliding gate valve; and aplurality of mounting components aligned perpendicular to said sliderunit so as to mount said slider unit to said housing portion such thatsaid slider unit is slidable with respect to said housing portion, eachof said mounting components having: a first end secured to said housingportion; a spring element for pressing said first refractory valve plateand said second refractory valve plate against each other; a second endopposite said first end; and a guide element on said second end forriding on a respective one of said guide tracks of said slider unit,said mounting components being arranged such that two guide elements arepositioned on each of two opposite sides of said refractory valveplates; wherein said slider unit is operable to be moved so as toposition said guide elements at a location whereat a height of saidguide tracks is lower than a height of a remaining portion of said guidetracks so as to relax said spring elements to allow release of saidslider unit from said housing portion.
 2. The sliding gate valve ofclaim 1, wherein said plurality of mounting components comprise twomounting components positioned on each of said two opposite sides ofsaid refractory valve plates, each of said mounting components having anelongated connecting element extending perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of said housing portion and said sliding unit, said guide elementbeing arranged on an end of said connecting element.
 3. The sliding gatevalve of claim 2, wherein each spring element comprises a compressionspring element, each connecting element being mounted in said housingportion so as to be operable to move in an axial direction of saidconnecting element and so as to be biased by said spring elements so asto press said first refractory valve plate and said second refractoryvalve plate against each other.
 4. The sliding gate valve of claim 2,wherein said two mounting components positioned on each of said twoopposite sides of said refractory valve plates are arranged in saidhousing portion so as to be symmetrical with respect to an outletopening of the container.
 5. The sliding gate valve of claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of mounting components comprise two mounting componentspositioned on one side of said refractory valve plates and beingconnected together by at least one connecting rod.
 6. The sliding gatevalve of claim 1, wherein said plurality of mounting components areremovably arranged in said housing portion and adapted to be removedfrom said housing portion as a unit including said spring element. 7.The sliding gate valve of claim 1, wherein said slider unit includes aguide track on each of said two opposite sides of said refractory valveplates, said guide element of each mounting component comprising slidingrollers for riding on a respective one of said guide tracks.
 8. Thesliding gate valve of claim 1, wherein said slider unit is operable tobe mounted by a hinge about a pivotal axis on a side of said housingportion when said slider unit is released from said housing portion soas to be positioned in a swung-out position.
 9. The sliding gate valveof claim 8, wherein said slider unit and said housing portion arearranged such that when said slider unit is moved so as to be releasedfrom said housing unit, a hinge member of said slider unit engages ahinge peg on said housing portion so as to form said hinge and so as topivotally connect said slider unit to said housing portion.
 10. Thesliding gate valve of claim 8, further comprising a drive element havinga push rod, wherein said slider unit is coupled to said push rod by acoupling adapted to automatically uncouple when said slider unit ismoved to the swung-out position.
 11. The sliding gate valve of claim 1,wherein said guide element of each mounting component includes a shaftand a rotatable sliding roller mounted on said shaft for riding on arespective one of said guide tracks.
 12. The sliding gate valve of claim1, wherein said housing portion and said slider unit are arrangedparallel and adjacent to each other when the sliding gate valve is in anoperational state.
 13. The sliding gate valve of claim 1, wherein eachside of said slider unit has a T-shaped groove extending along adirection of movement of said slider unit, said guide tracks of saidslider unit being formed in said T-shaped groove so as to guide saidguide element of each of said mounting components, said guide elementcomprising two sliding rollers arranged symmetrically with respect to aconnecting element of said mounting component.
 14. The sliding gatevalve of claim 13, wherein each T-shaped groove has a diverging openinglocated at a middle portion and an end portion of said T-shaped groovewith respect to a longitudinal axis of said T-shaped groove, eachdiverging opening being adapted so as to allow said guide element andsaid connecting element of said mounting component to pass therethrough.15. A sliding gate valve to be mounted to a container for containingmolten metal, comprising: a housing portion to be secured to thecontainer and having guide tracks; a slider unit mounted to said housingportion; a first refractory valve plate and a second refractory valveplate inserted between said housing portion and said slider unit andoperable to open and close the sliding gate valve; and a plurality ofmounting components aligned perpendicular to said slider unit so as tomount said slider unit to said housing portion such that said sliderunit is slidable with respect to said housing portion, each of saidmounting components having: a first end secured to said slider unit;spring elements for pressing said first refractory valve plate and saidsecond refractory valve plate against each other; a second end oppositesaid first end; and a guide element on said second end for riding on arespective one of said guide tracks of said housing portion, saidmounting components being arranged such that two guide elements arepositioned on each of two opposite sides of said refractory valveplates; wherein said slider unit is operable to be moved so as toposition said guide elements at a location whereat a height of saidguide tracks is lower than a height of a remaining portion of said guidetracks so as to relax said spring elements to allow release of saidslider unit.
 16. The sliding gate valve of claim 15, wherein saidplurality of mounting components comprise two mounting componentspositioned on each of said two opposite sides of said refractory valveplates, each of said mounting components having an elongated connectingelement extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said housingportion and said sliding unit, said guide element being arranged on anend of said connecting element.
 17. The sliding gate valve of claim 16,wherein each spring element comprises a compression spring element, eachconnecting element being mounted in said sliding unit so as to beoperable to move in an axial direction of said connecting element and soas to be biased by said spring elements so as to press said firstrefractory valve plate and said second refractory valve plate againsteach other.
 18. The sliding gate valve of claim 16, wherein said twomounting components positioned on each of said two opposite sides ofsaid refractory valve plates are arranged in said slider unit so as tobe symmetrical with respect to an outlet opening of the container. 19.The sliding gate valve of claim 15, wherein said plurality of mountingcomponents comprise two mounting components positioned on one side ofsaid refractory valve plates and being connected together by at leastone connecting rod.
 20. The sliding gate valve of claim 15, wherein saidplurality of mounting components are removably arranged in said sliderunit and adapted to be removed from said slider unit as a unit includingsaid spring element.
 21. The sliding gate valve of claim 15, whereinsaid housing portion includes a guide track on each of said two oppositesides of said refractory valve plates, said guide element of eachmounting component comprising sliding rollers for riding on a respectiveone of said guide tracks.
 22. The sliding gate valve of claim 15,wherein said slider unit is operable to be mounted by a hinge about apivotal axis on a side of said housing portion when said slider unit isreleased from said housing portion so as to be positioned in a swung-outposition.
 23. The sliding gate valve of claim 22, wherein said sliderunit and said housing portion are arranged such that when said sliderunit is moved so as to be released from said housing unit, a hingemember of said slider unit engages a hinge peg on said housing portionso as to form said hinge and so as to pivotally connect said slider unitto said housing portion.
 24. The sliding gate valve of claim 22, furthercomprising a drive element having a push rod, wherein said slider unitis coupled to said push rod by a coupling adapted to automaticallyuncouple when said slider unit is moved to the swung-out position. 25.The sliding gate valve of claim 15, wherein said guide element of eachmounting component includes a shaft and a rotatable sliding rollermounted on said shaft for rolling on a respective one of said guidetracks.
 26. The sliding gate valve of claim 15, wherein said housingportion and said slider unit are arranged parallel and adjacent to eachother when the sliding gate valve is in an operational state.